Instant Mash - thoughts?

Swishter

I make Tuna fishcakes with instant mash all the time, they are yummy.

I agree that it can be cheaper to buy big bags of taters but as a single/weekend couple with no decent place to store sacks the instant mash is a great standby.

I use it for fishcakes, sheperds pie toppings and it is a brilliant way to thicken up a stew easily. I just make a thick paste in a bowl with some of the gravy and stir it back into the stew, it never goes lumpy, good for thickening soups too.

Swishter

Also, if making for one I put about 1/2 the amount of mash than I want as an end result into a bowl add a knob of butter and stir in boiling water till I get the right consistency. I've had no problems so far, most packs are one use and aimed for a family so it saves on following the instructions.

When making fishcakes I fry off some onions first and add that to the mix, really delicious!

newleaf

My mum is in her 70's, lives alone, and uses instant mash for the same reasons as the OP's Dad

rach

i, too use the value stuff. i have it mainly with sausages as its quick and easy. i tend to use boiling water not milk, and mix in a bit of mayo (on a diet and its better than butter) i also often mix some mustard through it. lovely.

liz545

I use instant mash for making potato bread, kind of like this: http://www.thefreshloaf.com/recipes/bakedpotatobread and it works out quite well. I don't mind instant mash for making things like fishcakes or hashes, but I don't really like the taste of it on it's own. I have been thinking about making a bulk quantity of real mash, though, and then freezing it in dollops, kind of like the Aunt Bessie's stuff that you can buy. Has anyone tried this?

Linda32

fizzel81 wrote: »

ohh have not had instant mash for years, after reading some comments i may buy some of this next time im shopping,

Same here, I might just have a look next time I'm shopping. We have trouble with potatoes sprouting too :rolleyes:

kirstyreanne

Hi,
I'm a big fan of instant mash but I'm not fussed on the proper "smash". I don't like the dried cubes. I also find that powder instant smash still has quite a powdery texture once it's made up. The best has to be any instant mash that is in flake form - Mr Mash is the best of these by far.
My nan uses instant mash to make pastry for the top of pies such as steak & kidney. I think she just mixes butter with flour & potato flakes (half & half) & cuts them into small circles & layers them over the top of the filling.
HTH

winnie81

We use the tesco instant mash - not the value one but i must try it! OH won't eat smash as he doesn't like it. We make it with milk, butter and a small amount of boiling water it does taste nice with a sprinkle of cheese over too

I always have some as its a quick way to make a dinner

Claire x

Skint_Catt

Thank God I'm not the only one! When I did Slimming World, this was a quick and easy thing to have in my room when I was staying in hotels with salad from the salad bar! It doesn't get quite as thick as normal mash, but it's not bad

~*Plushroom*~

jamanda wrote: »

Add lots of grated cheese, put in dish and grate cheese on top. Grill until golden and serve with whatever you can find and baked beans. Cheap and cheerful and very nice.

That's what I've done before, makes a nice quick meal very cheaply.

I buy the asda own brand equivalent of Smash and it's really rather good, though if I put cheese with it I leave out the milk as I find it taste better.